Bikeway path project brings changes to traffic pattern on Central
Parkway
CINCINNATI -- Motorists who typically travel along Central Parkway
need to note traffic pattern changes that are being put in place to
accommodate the installation of new protected bike lanes.

Overall, the pathway will connect to the existing bike lanes on Ludlow
Avenue, and to a new shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

"As part of the city of Cincinnatiís ongoing investment in
Over-the-Rhine, the West End, and the CUF community, the Department of
Transportation and Engineering is constructing protected bike lanes on
Central Parkway from Elm Street to Marshall Avenue," the city wrote in
a release.

The project contractor, Ford Development Corp., is conducting the
following work:

Installing bus stop islands from Charles Street to Liberty Street;
Installing a raised protected bike lane to keep 15 parking spaces in
front of the Brighton-Mohawk ?Building on Central Parkway, as
requested by the property owner and approved by City Council;
Widening the pavement at CSR Academy, 1812 Central Parkway to allow
for bus parking for drop off ?and pick up of students;
Widening the pavement at 2318 Central Parkway to allow for parking by
residents, who do not have ?off-street parking; and
Installing signage and line striping to create the new traffic
pattern.
Beginning next week, the workers will start line-striping in
designated areas.

The new "protected bike lane (or cycle track)" is similar to a regular
bike lane except that bicycles and motor vehicle traffic are separated
with a physical barrier (such as a series of plastic poles), instead
of just a painted white stripe, according to the city's website.

Generally, there will be a 5-foot minimum bike lane in each direction
against the outside curb along Central Parkway. Plans call for it to
be separated from the rest of traffic by buffer zones of at least 3
feet.

Drivers are encouraged to reduce their speed and use caution when
approaching the closure area.

Overall, the pathway will connect to the existing bike lanes on Ludlow
Avenue, and to a new shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

"As part of the city of Cincinnatiís ongoing investment in
Over-the-Rhine, the West End, and the CUF community, the Department of
Transportation and Engineering is constructing protected bike lanes on
Central Parkway from Elm Street to Marshall Avenue," the city wrote in
a release.

The project contractor, Ford Development Corp., is conducting the
following work:

Installing bus stop islands from Charles Street to Liberty Street;
Installing a raised protected bike lane to keep 15 parking spaces in
front of the Brighton-Mohawk ?Building on Central Parkway, as
requested by the property owner and approved by City Council;
Widening the pavement at CSR Academy, 1812 Central Parkway to allow
for bus parking for drop off ?and pick up of students;
Widening the pavement at 2318 Central Parkway to allow for parking by
residents, who do not have ?off-street parking; and
Installing signage and line striping to create the new traffic
pattern.
Beginning next week, the workers will start line-striping in
designated areas.

The new "protected bike lane (or cycle track)" is similar to a regular
bike lane except that bicycles and motor vehicle traffic are separated
with a physical barrier (such as a series of plastic poles), instead
of just a painted white stripe, according to the city's website.

Generally, there will be a 5-foot minimum bike lane in each direction
against the outside curb along Central Parkway. Plans call for it to
be separated from the rest of traffic by buffer zones of at least 3
feet.

Drivers are encouraged to reduce their speed and use caution when
approaching the closure area.

A significant portion of the long talked about, and often debated,
Central Parkway Bike Path, which will eventually provide a protected
lane for bike riders from downtown to Clifton, is nearly finished.
Today, Monday, the parking lanes begin to shift.

Between 12th Street and Marshall Avenue, the lane immediately adjacent
to the curb will be for bikes. The parking lane will shift over.

A contractor for the city will begin installing plastic pylons on
Monday that will separate the bike lane from the parking lane. As the
pylons are installed, drivers should begin parking outside of them.

The other significant change is the installation of new rush-hour
restrictions on some parking during rush hours.

On-street parking will be restricted from 3-6 p.m. on the northbound,
or outbound, side Central Parkway between Liberty Street and Brighton
Place. These parking restrictions will be in place to help to traffic
flow better after the loss of one lane to car traffic because of the
bike lane.

The same parking restriction will be in place on the southbound, or
in-bound, side of Central Parkway between 7 to 9 a.m also between
Brighton Place and Liberty Street. These are the same types of
restrictions that have been in place for years Downtown.

Cars parked on the street during these times will be towed.

The concept behind the protected bike path is to create a connector
between Downtown, the West End, Over-the-Rhine, University Heights,
Clifton, and Northside. The city's Department of Transportation and
Engineering has identified these neighborhoods as places with already
heavy bike traffic.

The project has had a series of stops and starts. In 2013 it rolled
through community councils and online surveys. The bike lanes were
approved by the City Council, unanimously, in November of 2013. But
then things got complicated.

This spring, some businesses along Central Parkway complained about
the loss of parking and diminished traffic flow. Mayor John Cranley,
who took office after the council approval, grew concerned and wanted
more information. The path was imperiled.

Eventually, Vice Mayor David Mann and the City's Department of
Transportation and Engineering came up with a compromise that left the
path mostly intact and appeased business concerns. That plan was
approved, barely, in late April.

City Councilman Chris Seelbach, who had been the champion of the lane
from the beginning, and other proponents of alternate forms of
transportation, have pointed to other cities with bike paths that show
business improves along the lanes. Businesses, they say, will
eventually be thrilled with the changes. So will people who are
concerned about the cities traffic problems.